Special Report of the Operations Secretary

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Processes to address and resolve interstate administration issues The staff of the Division 2 Engineer and the Water Commissioner of the Garden City field office agreed at the meeting in Pueblo, Colorado on October 23 and 24, 2003, that working relations between the States could be improved by encouraging timely and effective communications between the Operations Secretary and the Assistant Operations Secretary, their staff members, and the members of the Operations Committee. See Appendix They also agreed that certain events during the year may warrant an exchange of data or a more extensive exchange of information concerning interstate administration, usually at the staff level. Similarly, certain events associated with dates during the Compact year were agreed upon as being potential opportunities for communication of additional information between the Operations Secretary and the Assistant Operations Secretary and between them and the Operations Committee. Two such events, one in the fall and one in the spring, were thought to be worthy to justify scheduled meetings between the officers and their staff members. These events are listed on both sides of Attachment A found in Appendix 4. The reason for these exchanges of data or information and meetings is that both officers are responsible for monitoring the operations of John Martin Reservoir based on the information available to them, including the daily accounting records provided by the Operations Secretary. In recognition that the Operations Secretary has a duty to provide information, maintain open communications, and consult with the Assistant Operations Secretary in the performance of his duties, it was also agreed that the Assistant Operations Secretary and his staff members should raise any issue of concern in a timely manner and to make a good faith effort to resolve such concerns through open communications. With respect to the written report required of the Operations Secretary by the 1980 Operating Plan Resolution and the reports of the Assistant Operations Secretary that have served as primary means of communication between the officers and the Operations Committee, as well as with each other, it was agreed that fairness requires allowing time for review and comment so that in the future both reports should be submitted at the same time. Based on the foregoing, I recommend that the Operations Committee adopt the following guidelines regarding communications between the Operations Secretary and the Assistant Operation Secretary, their staffs, and the Operations Committee: Concerns or complaints relating to the storage and release of water from John Martin Reservoir, the accounting of John Martin Reservoir operations, or other matters that relate to the interstate administration of the Arkansas River should be communicated promptly to the Operations Secretary or his staff. Such concerns or complaints may communicated orally or in writing. A response addressing the matter should be provided by the the Operations Secretary or his staff within a reasonable time. Normally, such concerns or complaints should be raised within